Taking on a new employee

[southcoastboile]

I'm having an unbelievably hard time trying to find a decent trustworthy engineer to take on.

I seem to always get subbies apply for the job which I don't really want incase they steal my business,or, and this is no joke. A Gas safe engineer who didnt know how to do a tightness test or were the gas valve on the boiler is or analyser point.

i took on 2 guys and they cost me a couple of grand in burning carpets etc.

Does anyone have any tips on finding a good engineer? Also the wage may be a factor. What would you say is an average hourly wage for a 42.5 hour week?

i have advertised on indeed etc but no joy really. Have been looking on and off for about 5 months. Now I have had another engineer leave to go travelling at our busiest time of year so I'm doing way to much work at the moment and I'm desperate for someone trustworthy and competant.

thanks

 

[Rickster123]

What are you advertising the salary as? What areas do you cover?

 

[southcoastboile]

£27 to £30k depending on experience. Dorset area

 

[Rickster123]

Seems quite reasonable mate. Van, holiday, overtime etc etc?

 

[lame plumber]

I would have thought that would get a reasonable to brilliant worker!!

 

[R.Oak]

What area of Dorset are you? Im near Yeovil and can ask some people i worked with before i set up on my own. I know quite a lot of decent plumbers and engineers

 

[southcoastboile]

Company van supplied. Overtime available. Normally a fair amount In the winter especially. Im based in poole

 

[R.Oak]

I'll ask around for you mate. I only really know commercial guys down that way but I'll ask the local guys i know.

 

[Rickster123]

Are the vans fitted with trackers?..:driving:

 

[southcoastboile]

No there not. Never had the need to but the last guy I took on majorly took the p**s doing privates in the day while he was supposed to be working and booking the time out as if he was working so I can see why employers get them fitted. Thanks r oak, I have put up job application forms in the local merchants but have literally had 2 people call off them.

 

[Rickster123]

Is it private customers? Mainly install or is it breakdowns and service?

 

[southcoastboile]

It's a bit of everything to be honest. I could probably keep someone on full time on breakdowns, llgs and servicing or just purely install work.

 

[Whn1]

The firm I work for employ about 2 guys a month I've seen many last only a day. Hard to find a good engineer these days. Still looking.

 

[southcoastboile]

Yeah it's really difficult and picking the wrong one costs a lot of money and causes pure hassle.

 

[Millsy 82]

The problem is the good ones are usually well looked after at the company they already work for or self employed and most of them won't know your looking.

I know it sounds bad but you have to go poaching if you want decent breakdown engineers speak to your spares stockists they will know by the amount of parts they order. Installers are harder to find as once they buy the bits they go off and fit and no one knows what it's like.

I think now trackers are a must! Some of the people I have worked with took the mick with trackers is love to see what they were like without the trackers!

 

[DaveTidy]

Why don't you do a quick trade test to see what they know before you take on guys that may not be competant.

If they can answer a few questions it would tell you if they can use a meter to fault find. Maybe some obvious pressure, flue, unsafe situations questions etc.

I then have few interview questions to see their thoughts on first time fix, recalls, van stock usage, health and safety, customer care and paperwork.

If they get through that (which takes an hour) they are serious about wanting the job, if they think its too much then it saves me time down the line as they clearly didn't want it that bad!

 

[happyflyer]

Pity I am a baldy Old Git love to work in Poole nice area, I would fit in lot of Old Baldy Git in Poole with lots of money, I worked for Hamworthy in Poole on the big duel fuel burners way before GSR or Corgi toy!

Good Luck with your search for the impossible dream, it may be a compromise

Tony

 

[southcoastboile]

Why don't you do a quick trade test to see what they know before you take on guys that may not be competant.

If they can answer a few questions it would tell you if they can use a meter to fault find. Maybe some obvious pressure, flue, unsafe situations questions etc.

I then have few interview questions to see their thoughts on first time fix, recalls, van stock usage, health and safety, customer care and paperwork.

If they get through that (which takes an hour) they are serious about wanting the job, if they think its too much then it saves me time down the line as they clearly didn't want it that bad!

I always do that before I take someone on and have ruled out a few people in the interview process but even then you never know for sure. One guy new the answers but was useless at the job.

 

[Rybo_1]

The way I see it is that, 9/10 if a plumbers looking for work there must be a reason. I work for someone as a subby but he knows I'm not going anywhere and he likes what i do and he treats me well. We've had plumbers come and go. Some know all the talk, but can't back it up. some last two weeks and then the cracks start to show with eithet there timekeeping or workmanship. It will be hard to find someone good and you may have to pay the lad more but in the long run it will be worth it.

 

[DaveTidy]

I always do that before I take someone on and have ruled out a few people in the interview process but even then you never know for sure. One guy new the answers but was useless at the job.

Yeah it's a pain. I usually short list cvs. At the interview I do a trade test, a visual inspection test with 10 obvious faults on a meter board, then 12 questions to question their overall trade knowledge and how they got to this stage; if they then get in, I have a QC form with 52 points which is used for the first 6 jobs so we don't waste too much time.

If they are a problem after that then it's because they are a clever wide boy or they know it but can't be bothered so what else can you do.

If they jump through all those hoops they are generally pretty good and just don't want the hassle of working for them selves any more or they are a person who gets found out in the process.

 

[happyflyer]

Gizza Job,

Good CV if you want one, 45 pages, can't crawl under floors no more, go for the gear in van, got a B&Q trade card

 

[Ermintrude]

Gets oap discount on Wednesdays too!

 

[happyflyer]

Gets oap discount on Wednesdays too!

Double whamy, nice to be old, free bus pass, half price rail fair.

 

[Nostrum]

Double whamy, nice to be old, free bus pass, half price rail fair.

Also two knackered knees and have to stay in close proximity of a toilet at all times. Not to mention the 'you boys don't even realise you were born' line on repeat 24/7 (excluding the times you fall asleep and face plant the dinner plate)

 

[dave1]

It's amazing how many poor engineers there are out there. I'm not the best and I certainly don't know everything buts it's embarrassing and shocking to see some of the "engineers" you see that can't do a tightness test/gas rate or understand basic principles and safe working let alone be able to fill in a cp12 correctly!